KeNHA/3008/2026: Technical audit consultancy for Kenya…

What is being bought

Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) is requesting proposals for a consultancy to provide technical audit services for the Kenya-South Sudan road corridor upgrading project, Phase 1, covering three lots: Lesseru-Kitale (B14) 55km, Morpus-Kainuk (A1) 54km, and Kainuk-Lokichar (A1) 75km. The assignment covers the implementation phase (anticipated three years) and a one-year Defects Notification Period. Selection is by Least Cost Selection (LCS) using a Full Technical Proposal (FTP) format under the African Development Bank framework.

What could disqualify you

A firm sanctioned by the Bank cannot be shortlisted, submit a proposal or be awarded a Bank-financed contract for the sanction period. Standard rule D1 p.16
A consultant may submit only one proposal, either alone or as a joint venture member. Submitting or joining more than one proposal disqualifies all of them. Standard rule D1 p.19
Conflict of interest: failing to disclose actual or potential conflicts may lead to disqualification. Hiring is also barred for conflicting activities or close relationships with the Client's staff involved in the RFP or contract. Standard rule D1 p.16
Any proposal from a consultant whose composition differs from the shortlisted composition is rejected, unless the Client has given permission before the deadline. Any change of JV member or sub-consultant must be requested in time. Standard rule D1 p.11
Proposals are rejected if a key expert named in the proposal was not available at submission or availability was not assured for the full duration, or was included without confirmation. Standard rule D1 p.20
Proposals not signed by an authorised representative are not valid. A joint venture must be signed by all members or by a representative holding a written power of attorney from each member. Changes must be initialled by the signer. Standard rule D1 p.23
Material deficiencies in providing the information requested in the RFP may result in rejection of the proposal. Standard rule D1 p.19
Proposals received after the deadline are declared late, rejected and returned unopened. Standard rule D1 p.24
A technical proposal that does not respond to important aspects of the RFP or fails the minimum technical score in the Data Sheet is rejected at evaluation. The minimum score is not stated in the pages reviewed. Standard rule D1 p.25

Key facts

Closing: Fri 30 Oct 2026, 11:00 am
Proposals must be submitted no later than 2026-10-30 at 11:00 local time (Nairobi), per the Tender Data Sheet and the portal closing date. Late proposals are rejected and returned unopened. D1 p.36
Bid / tender security: Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated P
Tender fee: Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated P
Site visit: Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated P
Pre-bid meeting: Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated P
Reserved for: Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated P
Contract value: Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated P
Tender opening: Technical Proposals are opened immediately after the submission deadline at KeNHA Headquarters, 2nd Floor, South wing, Block C, Barabara Plaza, JKIA, Nairobi. Online opening is not offered. Firm representatives may attend in person. D1 p.36
Tender validity: Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated D1 p.20

Who can apply

All parties in the consultant (firms, individuals, sub-consultants, joint ventures and their members) must be nationals of an eligible country of the Bank, as listed in Section 5. Standard rule D1 p.16
The Consultant must meet the eligibility requirements for its experts, joint venture members, sub-consultants and suppliers as set by the Bank. The Consultant is responsible for ensuring this. Standard rule D1 p.16

Application checklist

Tick items off as you prepare. Your ticks stay on this device only.

Required from every bidder

Technical Proposal Submission Form (TECH-1), signed, with the declarations (a) to (e), including the declaration of no conflict of interest and eligibility. D1 p.40
Consultant's Organization and Experience (TECH-2) for the Full Technical Proposal, including organisation background, organisational chart, board list and beneficial ownership information. D1 p.43
Experience must be listed only for similar assignments completed in the last 10 years (2016 to date). Each claim must be supported by copies of relevant documents such as award letters, contracts or completion certificates. Unsupported experience is not considered. D1 p.43
CVs for all key professional and skilled staff, with certified copies of highest education certificates and copies of professional body registration, and the duration in person-months for each person. D1 p.80
Signed Technical Proposal Submission Form declarations, which state that the proposal is true and that the consultant meets ITC 6 eligibility and ITC 5 anti-fraud obligations. D1 p.41

Required only in some situations

If the proposal is by a joint venture: a power of attorney for each JV member's authorised representative and one for the lead member, and a letter of intent to form a JV or a copy of the existing JV agreement. D1 p.40
If the proposal includes sub-consultants: list each sub-consultant with full name and address in the TECH-1 submission form. D1 p.41

Experience, licences and financial capacity

Technical

The consultancy covers three lots: Lot 1 Lesseru-Kitale (B14) road 55km; Lot 2 Morpus-Kainuk (A1) road 54km; Lot 3 Kainuk-Lokichar (A1) road 75km. Reports are consolidated but findings are reported separately for each lot. D1 p.72
Key personnel include a Highway Engineer/Team Leader, Structural/Drainage Engineer, Materials Engineer, Measurements Engineer, and Environmental and Social Expert. The person-month inputs in the table are not clearly legible, so numbers are not confirmed. Unverified D1 p.80
Key experts need experience with AfDB or other multilateral development bank environmental and social safeguards requirements. D1 p.80
All experts need excellent knowledge of English, report writing, communication and computer skills. Previous work in developing countries, preferably Sub-Saharan Africa, is highly desirable. D1 p.80
The Consultant must provide adequate contract management and claims review capacity through the Team Leader or a Contract/Claims Specialist. D1 p.80
Key experts must be available at submission and confirm availability in writing. Substitution is allowed only for circumstances beyond control and must be justified with equal or better qualifications. Standard rule D1 p.20
Subcontracting of the whole service is not allowed. Partial subcontracting is limited to the percentage stated in the Data Sheet, which is not in the pages reviewed. Standard rule D1 p.20

Financial

The Financial Proposal must state local costs in Kenya shillings (the Client's country currency). D1 p.36
The price may be expressed in any currency, singly or in combination of up to three foreign currencies. D1 p.36
The consultant is responsible for all tax liabilities arising from the contract unless the Data Sheet states otherwise. Standard rule D1 p.23
At negotiations the firm must be ready to disclose audited financial statements for the last three years and accept scrutiny of its rates. Standard rule D1 p.60

How and where to submit

Physical submission only. The Consultant may not submit electronically. Submit one original and two copies of the Technical Proposal plus one softcopy PDF on a flash disk; the Financial Proposal is one original. D1 p.36
Deliver to the Director General, Attention Deputy Director (Supply Chain Management), Kenya National Highways Authority, 2nd Floor, South wing, Block C, Barabara Plaza, JKIA, Off Mazao Road, P. O. Box 49712-00100, Nairobi, or deposit in the tender box at KeNHA HQ. D1 p.36
Packaging: Technical and Financial Proposals go in separate sealed envelopes, placed in one outer sealed envelope addressed to the Client. Unsealed or unmarked packages are the consultant's responsibility. Standard rule D1 p.24
Marking: the original is marked ORIGINAL and copies COPY. The Technical envelope must be marked TECHNICAL PROPOSAL with the assignment name, reference number, and consultant name and address. The Financial envelope is marked FINANCIAL PROPOSAL and is kept separate. Standard rule D1 p.23
Notice of intention: the consultant is asked to inform KeNHA in writing (or by email to directordevelopment@kenha.co.ke and procurement@kenha.co.ke) by 24 September 2026 that it has received the RFP and whether it intends to bid alone or with associates. D1 p.11

Lots and categories

Lot Lot 1: Upgrading of Lesseru – Kitale (B14) Road (55km). D1 p.72
Lot Lot 2: Upgrading of Morpus – Kainuk (A1) Road (54 Km). D1 p.72
Lot Lot 3: Upgrading of Kainuk - Lokichar (A1) Road (75 km). D1 p.72

Not covered in the documents we reviewed

Tender Data Sheet pages for ITC 12.1 (proposal validity period), ITC 12.9 (subcontracting percentage), ITC 14.1 (language), and the minimum technical score
Whether a bid or proposal security is required (amount, form, validity)
Whether a tender document fee applies and how it is paid
Estimated contract value or budget for the assignment
Whether a site visit or pre-bid meeting is held or compulsory
Evaluation criteria, sub-criteria and point system (Data Sheet ITC 22)
Full Section 4 financial proposal forms and any Financial Form requirements
Any addenda or clarifications issued after the RFP
Full Terms of Reference pages for the key personnel table, person-month figures and deliverables
Whether reservations (youth, women, persons with disabilities, AGPO) apply
Contact details for clarifications (Data Sheet ITC 13.1)

Terms explained

RFP: Request for Proposals: the invitation to submit a proposal for a consultancy, not a price-based tender.
LCS: Least Cost Selection: a method where the firm is selected from the technical score and the lowest cost among qualifying firms.
FTP: Full Technical Proposal: the full technical proposal format, including organisation, experience, approach and staff.
TDS / Data Sheet: Tender Data Sheet: the document that gives the tender-specific values (dates, copies, validity) for the Instructions to Consultants.
ITC: Instructions to Consultants: the general rules for preparing and submitting proposals.
Key Experts: Named senior staff whose availability must be confirmed; their replacement is restricted.
Joint Venture (JV): Two or more firms bidding together as one consultant, with a lead member and joint liability.
Sub-consultant: A firm named to perform part of the services under the lead consultant.
Responsive: A proposal that meets all important requirements of the RFP and Terms of Reference.
AfDB: African Development Bank, the financier whose procurement framework and eligibility rules apply.
Person-months: Measure of expert time: one person working for one month.
Defects Notification Period: Period after completion when the contractor is responsible for fixing defects; here one year after implementation.

KeNHA/3008/2026: Technical audit consultancy for Kenya-South Sudan road corridor upgrading, Phase 1 (RFP)